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A Guest Post by Michelle Panulla
(If you want to guest post on this blog, check out the guidelines here.)
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This is the second of a 3-part series.
The series How to Find a Great Webmaster begins here.
Step 2: Narrowing the Field
Okay, so you’ve got a list of names. Now what? It’s time to narrow the field. It may feel uncomfortable, but digging deeper with your potential webmasters is necessary, and a good webmaster expects it. We’ve had bad experiences, too, and any potential client who doesn’t ask questions sets off warning bells.
Ask for References
This one is a biggie. Your webmaster should be willing to share the names and contact information of past clients. Even if your potential webmaster is fresh out of college and has no work experience, somebody somewhere has worked with, taught or been on the IM softball team with him and can give you an idea of his work ethic, know-how and personality.
Once you contact the reference, listen to or read the responses carefully. This person was chosen by your potential webmaster because he or she will speak positively and make her look good. Ask meaty questions. In what manner do they know each other? Have they worked together on web projects? How is she with deadlines? What are the details?
Ask about Specific Services
“Webmaster” is a generic term that can cover a wealth of possibilities. Ask about the specific services your potential webmaster offers. Does he design? Is she a programmer? How does he feel about databases? Is she a social media expert? Who you choose will depend on your needs.
Keep in mind that you probably will not find someone who covers all your needs. The web is diverse, and most people cannot be experts in every aspect of it. If your needs are diverse, you may want to hire more than one person or an all-inclusive agency (I’ll talk more about this in the “Other Considerations” section later). Prioritize your needs, and make sure your webmaster is someone who can easily handle the most important ones.
Consider the Project Management Triangle
(Don’t Expect the Mona Lisa in One Day for the Price of Macaroni Art)
Good. Fast. Cheap. Those are the three points on the Project Management triangle. Choose two. It is virtually impossible to find someone who can provide all three of these points. Project Managers live by this triangle because it has proven true over and over again. You need to decide before hiring which of the two will be your priorities, and then align your hiring choice with those priorities.
Of course, there are always those who fail at two (or even all three!) points. Don’t believe that if someone is expensive, you’ll automatically get good and fast. You still need to ask questions and research past references.
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Michelle Panulla is a WordPress Developer in Portland, Oregon and part of the 
Blogging with Beth team. She loves travel, dark chocolate, dark beer, Thai food, critters, coffee and karaoke night.
Michelle, I’m so glad that you mentioned the “project management triangle” of good-fast-cheap! I’ve never thought of that before! I’ve always looked for all three and it took me a long time to give up on fast or cheap. The one thing I know that, I think, many new professionals don’t know is that you never want to sacrifice quality of workmanship. Every time I ever have made that choice . . . it has cost me more MONEY and TIME!
I’m so glad that I found you!